It's here! Browse the 2024 Penguin Christmas gift guide
1966

1966

My World Cup Story

Summary

In 1966 England won the World Cup at Wembley. Sir Bobby Charlton, England’s greatest ever player, was there on the pitch. Now, fifty years on, Sir Bobby looks back on the most glorious moment of his life and England's greatest sporting achievement.

In 1966 he takes us through the build-up to the tournament and to the final itself, describing what he saw, what he heard, and what he felt. He explains what it was like to be part of Sir Alf Ramsey’s team, gives us his personal memories of his teammates, the matches, the atmosphere; the emotion of being carried on the wave of a nation’s euphoria and how it felt to go toe-to-toe with some of the foremost footballers to ever play the game. He reveals what it means to be forever defined by one moment; how a life fully lived can come back to one single instance, one day when a man stands side-by-side with his best friends united in a single aim, in front of a watching nation.

Reviews

  • Carefully and lovingly told with deeper layers of reflection and wistfulness.
    Giles Smith, The Times

About the author

Bobby Charlton

Having survived the trauma of the Munich air disaster aged just 20, Sir Bobby Charlton played as if every game was for his fallen colleagues, recovering from his injuries to reach the pinnacle for both Manchester United and England. Playing as an attacking midfielder Sir Bobby is regarded as one of the greatest footballers the game has ever seen. During his playing career that spanned twenty years he won three League Championships, the FA Cup, the European Cup and the World Cup. With England he played in four World Cups scoring a then-record 49 goals. He is currently a director of Manchester United.
Learn More

More from this Author

Sign up to the Penguin Newsletter

For the latest books, recommendations, author interviews and more